Columbia Pictures Picks Up Shane Black’s DOC SAVAGE

Columbia Pictures will bring pulp hero Doc Savage back to the big screen with Shane Black co-writing and directing. For those unfamiliar with the character, Doc Savage was a 1930s and 40s pulp fiction hero who was described by writer Lester Dent as “a mix of Sherlock Holmes’ deductive abilities, Tarzan’s outstanding physical abilities, Craig Kennedy’s scientific education, and Abraham Lincoln’s goodness.”

As we reported back in October, Neil Moritz and Ori Marmur would produce and while Shane Black was confirmed to write the film, it would only rumored he would direct. Now, Variety confirms that Black will be getting in the director’s chair and make Doc Savage his first film since 2005’s brilliant Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. Black is co-writing the script with Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry. Presumably, they’ll still be setting the film in the 1930s rather than attempt to “modernize” the character, as tempting as that may be after the success of Sherlock Holmes.

Hit the jump to read what Columbia co-president Matt Tolmach had to say about jumping on board the Doc Savage bandwagon.

Here’s what Tolmach said about bringing the Man of Bronze back to theaters:

“Doc Savage is an icon, a character with limitless possibilities,” said Columbia co-president Matt Tolmach of the character, who is by turns a scientist, physician, adventurer, inventor, explorer and researcher. “We have had a great experience working with Neal to bring another classic character of the era, the Green Hornet, to a new generation of fans, and we think he and Shane make the ideal team to bring Doc Savage back to the big screen.”

I am more than happy to report on anything Shane Black-related and I want this project to be filming now. Hopefully, Columbia will put this on the fast track as soon as Black, Bagarozzi, and Mondry have a go script.